As we reported earlier on My Edmonds News, Chase Lake Community School in Edmonds recently lost $8,000 in  state funding for its Safety Net Program, aimed at meeting basic needs (such as food, clothing and extra help with homework) of Chase Lake families who live below the poverty line.

Enter Edmonds Lutheran Church, located just down the street from the school, which committed to give $4,000 — half of the amount needed to fund the program for one year. The church then worked with Chase Lake to get the word out in the community.

“For any child in our neighborhood to go to school hungry, to go without a warm coat, to worry if they are going to eat over the weekend….that is simply unacceptable”, said Dr. Julie Josund, pastor of Edmonds Lutheran Church. “We are asking friends, local businesses, and other faith communities to meet us half-way and make any contribution so that this very critical program can be preserved.”

The community responded, and in less than two months, the school raised 100 percent of the needed funds to operate the Safety Net program for another year.

Karen Nilson, principal of Chase Lake Community School, responded with the following note to the community:

Dear Edmonds Community,

Over the past two months, with a few committed neighbors and a pledge from Edmonds Lutheran Church, Chase Lake Community School successfully raised just over $10,000 to fund the Safety Net Program for one year. This summer we sent an appeal to organizations that have helped us in the past. We began with a leap of faith and belief in our good neighbors, and now we can report how many good neighbors we have. Thanks to you, we made it!

Food insecurity is still our most visible need. This summer, 11,000 households in Washington had their food assistance benefits cut in half due to state budget cuts. Estimates from hunger advocates say that 440,000 children or 25% of all children in Washington experience hunger on a regular basis, the highest rate in 20 years. The younger the family, the higher the risk. Young families are the majority of clients in elementary schools so it makes sense we will see children in tough circumstances while parents get their work lives started.

The Safety Net Program helps turn these difficult statistics into good news. We often work with families over time, and know that things can change. We see young families grow with their children, things improve, and they come to tell us it is time to give their weekend backpack to another family. Our experience shows that no one gets ahead alone; sometimes a community and a neighborhood school can apply the right help at the right time. And when treated with kindness, families will pay it forward for years to come. For example, many contributors to the Safety Net Program gave generously to us because they recall their own childhoods when they received a charity box of food on their doorstep. Now they can give back.

This is sustainable success; if we do the small things right, we see them turn into a big answer. With compassion and this simple school program, we preserve both the dignity of families and the community. Young families in our school community will directly benefit, and we are grateful on their behalf. Many individuals gave checks over the course of the past two months, proving our good neighbors theory of action. We also had significant contributions from several charitable organizations. If you know members of the following organizations, please tell them thank you, they are making a difference:

Kiwanis, Edmonds Lutheran Church, Edmonds Universalist Unitarian Church, Edmonds Police Officers, Holy Rosary Parish, Thrivent Financial, Windermere, Advanced Hearing Systems

Sincerely,

Karen Nilson
Principal of Chase Lake Community School